Fourth District state Assembly candidates are likely to march toward November’s special election without the support of the New Jersey Education Association, which announced endorsements this week.

Neither Assemblywoman Gabriela Mosquera (D-4, of Gloucester Township) nor her Republican challenger Shelley Lovett was endorsed by the NJEA after both candidates were interviewed by the organization’s local review team.

According to NJEA officials, the local interview teams recommended the statewide association not endorse either candidate for the special election — a rematch to the 2011 Assembly election in which both Gloucester Township women went head-to-head.

“After reviewing their questionnaires and interviewing both candidates, the committee decided it would not put forth a recommendation on either candidate,” said Ginger Gold Schnitzer, NJEA’s director of government relations.

During the organization’s interview process, candidates are judged on electability, voting records and their alignment with NJEA on certain political issues related to education that have not yet gone to a vote.

Lovett, a former teacher, did receive NJEA support last year when she ran against Mosquera for one of two Assembly seats and lost.

A month after the election, Lovett claimed Mosquera was not eligible to hold the Assembly post and took the Democrat election-winner to court. After a month of fast-moving litigation, Mosquera was stripped of her 2011 votes, but allowed to be sworn in as her own temporary replacement.

Electability could account for NJEA’s reticence in not supporting Lovett for a second time.

“Am I disappointed? I think it’s more telling that they didn’t endorse Ms. Mosquera because she is a sitting assemblywoman,” Lovett said. “They didn’t endorse her this time, and they didn’t endorse her last time, either.”

Mosquera’s campaign manager Matt Bonasia sees it differently, however, viewing Lovett’s loss of the endorsement as a win for the Democratic candidate.

“At the end of the day, in a little less than a year, Shelley has lost the full-fledged support of the NJEA,” Bonasia said. “That is a big victory for Mosquera in such a short period of time.”

While the NJEA “didn’t have any reason to know Gabby Mosquera” last year, Schnitzer said the assemblywoman has been visible at union events.

But a presence at union functions didn’t seal the envelope for Mosquera.

While the interview team was “very positive about her,” she does not have enough of a voting history to stand behind, according to Schnitzer.

“Some of her positions on issues, they (NJEA) may not have felt entirely comfortable in those areas,” said Schnitzer, adding that the union has concerns about Mosquera’s stance on privatization issues and the assemblywoman’s support of the Opportunities Scholarship Act.

“She also has another bill regarding county purchasing that she is a sponsor of that gave us some pause,” Schnitzer said.

If Mosquera’s relationship with the association, and her voting record was stronger, Schnitzer said the NJEA could have overlooked her stance on some issues.

The NJEA interviewers are “selective and picky, and they ought to be,” said Schnitzer. “These endorsements decide where voluntary PAC dollars go ... they are really cautious. I wouldn’t take it as any sign that they didn’t like or will never support Mosquera. They are just showing a bit of caution this year.

U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2, of Ventnor), the lone Republican among the bunch of endorsed Democrats, and U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-1, of Haddon Heights) were much more easily picked by the organization, Schnitzer said, calling LoBiondo a “slam dunk.”

“He has a great record on labor issues ... he returns calls and shows up at things,” Schnitzer said. “His support for issues the members care about is rock solid.”